XRayInterfaceVsJavaReflection.md

XRayInterface vs. Java Reflection

The typical way to access a private method in Java with Reflection is:

1. lookup of the class of the object to access

   Class<?> clazz = object.getClass();

2. wrapping of param types into arrays

   Class<?>[] paramTypes = new Class<?>[]{char[].class};

3. lookup of the member to access

   Method m = clazz.getDeclaredMethod("callExample", args);

4. enabling access for private methods/fields

   m.setAccessible(true);

5. wrapping arguments into arrays

   Object[] args = new Object[]{"chars".toCharArray()};

6. indirectly setting, getting, invoking members

   Object result = m.invoke(object, args);

7. converting the result type

   int intResult = ((Integer) result).intValue();

XRayInterface does not bother you with that boilerplate code:

1. Just define the interface

   interface Example {
   
     int callExample(char[] characters);
     
   }

2. Then bind it:

   Example example = XRayInterface.xray(object).to(Example.class);

3. And call it:

   int intResult = example.callExample("chars".toCharArray());